September 2012 Babies

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being able to stay home

LoveTamaraHoward wrote:

I really would like to stay home after baby #2 is born (I have a 5 yo Ds) and with the price of gas and daycare it wouldn't really make much scene for me to work but I was wondering if any stay at home moms have tips for making it work! Can I afford to not work?

@LoveTamaraHoward You guys can do a kinda trial run with your finances. Try living off your husbands paycheck for a few months. That will tell you if you guys can do it or not! If not you are still working so no loss there. I stay home and like once or twice a week I make a larger meal for dinner so my hubby has lunch for work all week (save moula by not buying lunch). Less going out to eat. Go shopping together so you can ask each other if it's something you really need.Good luck!

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LisaPDX

@LoveTamaraHoward I stay home, and money is tight, but we manage. Here are some of my tricks: get rid of your credit card and use cash (budget te amount of spending money you get) for all shopping outside of grocery shopping. I actually started a little business in my basement and use the profit for my spending money. It pays for my gas and little expenses. Make lunches for you and your husband, stop going out to way except for really special occasions. Buy clothes secondhand if you can. Plant a garden for your summer produce. I buy in-season fruit during the summer and can, dry, and freeze it, as well as my extra garden produce. It's much cheaper and healthier than store bought. Buy meats in large quantities and wrap them in small portions and freeze them: it's much cheaper. Learn to cut up a whole chicken: ditto on the cheaper. Don't buy processed food (cheaper to cook a meal from the raw ingredients). Accept hand-me-downs from friends for your LO . How's that for a list?

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LoveTamaraHoward

@LisaPDX Lisa thank you! That was very helpful! I used to coupon alot and will get back into that for help as well!

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realfoodmommy

@LoveTamaraHoward I will say that it never looks like it will work on paper, but it always does! I quit my job after my first son was born, and, on paper, it looked like we needed to make 10k more a year, and then my husband got a pay cut. But, we cut cable and satellite, we cut our bills, we sacrificed some of the nicer things, but we made it work! My oldest is about to turn 3, and we just paid cash for a van and we have money in savings. It is hard and it takes cutting back and financial sacrifice, but you can do it!

I definitely recommend doing Dave Ramsey! That's what we've done to ensure we have enough in savings and budget well. It's hard, but you can do it!

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catwhite27

@LoveTamaraHoward It can be hard both ways your income basically goes to the day care. Staying home and watching them grow is amazing!!! But getting out is important for you and them. Check your budget maybe you can do part time or stay home till they start school. I love being home. Sometimes I miss work but I love being number one for my kids. It was hard financially for the first few year to adjust we just got to where we are comfortable again. But it's worth it if it's what you truly want.

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lotsacarisma

Ive never worked, any job I could get would just pay for daycare so there's no point. My husband has a good job. We do not have credit cards, never have never will. We have the advantage of living in the country. I plant a garden every summer and can or freeze what we dont use. I raise chickens for eggs, and sell my extra eggs. We use coupons when we shop and only buy what we need. Most of my kids' clothes are hand me downs or gifts from grandparents. I do have horses and rabbits, which is a huge expense. But I show and sell my rabbits so they pretty much pay for their food, and I train other peoples horses to help pay for mine, so it usually works out. Im no sit on my butt stay at home momma, lol!

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DeMom2012

@LoveTamaraHoward I never thought I'd be able to last as a SAHM financially, but it's been over 2 years and we're in the best position we've ever been financially. You're a lot more cautious about what you spend when there's only one income, we always make sure to contribute to savings every pay in case of emergency, no credit cards (although I do use one for the reward points, it's basically free money, if you pay it off monthly), go over your bills and make sure everything is low as possible (do you really need those cable channels? Do you need those extra cellphone minutes? Have you shopped around for better car insurance rates?), pay off everything you can before baby, coupons, meal plan for the week before grocery shopping so you're not wandering around the grocery store throwing random things in the cart. I think almost every couple can make it work, you just have to be willing to give up some things. It's well worth it!

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sm369

@LoveTamaraHoward A deep freezer, big extra freezer is a good idea bc you can do like pp said, buy meat in bulk and cut it into smaller portions.

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drbgnome

@LoveTamaraHoward absolutely you can make it work! Unless you have to contribute to your house payment or something like that. You will make sacrifices no doubt. Fun activities might be just taking a walk to the park, or swimming at a community pool rather than amusement parks, and water parks, shopping, etc.

First, make a budget. Allot an amount for food, gas, household expenses. Decide how much you want to save for an emergency fund (very important for when the car breaks down or you have an unexpected medical bill). If you rent, and you are paying more than you need to, move once your lease is up to a cheaper place. Every dollar counts, so even if you have to give up some luxuries it's worth it if you can save the money. Become a super saver, research how to do coupons, etc. You might have to give up something like cable, and eating out.

Its hard, and sometimes we come up a bit short if I'm not careful. It's worth it though. You just have to be committed.

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DeMom2012

@LoveTamaraHoward If you're not planning on it already, breast feeding will save you a ton of money, and it's so convenient when you're with baby all day (not to mention health benefits). So will cloth diapering.

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atsquared

@LoveTamaraHoward I'm finally going to be a stay at home mom after Baby #3 arrives! I've wanted to since I had my first 4 years ago, but have a good job with pension and benefits, so I never thought I could/should. Two years ago we moved to a bigger house in a great neighborhood, but we need my salary to live here. So we are moving at the end of the month to a smaller place with lower mortgage and taxes. We'll still need to be careful with spending, but will be able to keep up our retirement savings, plus short term savings for emergencies, Christmas gifts, etc. I plan to help out financially by careful menu planning, cooking and baking from scratch, finding frugal activities to do with the kids, etc. Good luck! Hope it works out for you! :)

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Melynda717

My advice:Prepare prepare prepare!!!I didn't choose to become a stay at home mom when I was one. I lost my job and having been fighting with unemployment. I had my bills and he had his and we really didn't discuss them. We were living together but he took care of the rent utilities and his bills and I paid the car note and my bills. I also took care of the groceries. When I lost my job all of a sudden we weren't prepared and struggled because of it. I'm back working now but plan to leave my job next year when I start grad school. Knowing what we know now we are starting to prepare for the absence of my paycheck once again.

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Shryssr

@LoveTamaraHoward Absolutely! Well, I don't know your financial situation, but we did like a pp suggested. When expecting our 1st we lived off dh income payed off any debts (besides house) and stashed mine way so once baby arrived we didn't feel a change in cash flow. I do my best to meal plan and to save on gas I have one day a week for errands. If I go more than that I tend to spend more. I don't look at anything not on my list :). We rarely go out to eat. Ill often pack snacks/lunch if we have plans for the day (trip to museum/park). For gifts we ask for memberships to museums or community center and other things we may need. Hand me downs are great. I find great deals at Goodwill ( but you still have to be careful to buy only what you really need!). I basically don't shop much at all! Lol. It's easier just to stay out of the stores. It's so worth it though! Your kids are only little for so long, but you can always go back to work :). You'll be saving $ on daycare, gas and work clothes. I think in many situations it can be done, but it's difficult to make sacrifices and live different than you are accustomed to. Depends on a persons priorities and how bad they want it. I'm impressed with another pp who said she is moving into a smaller house so she can stay home, awesome!. Best wishes to you! I hope you find it can work for you too!

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